Royal Irish Yacht Club Announces Participation in Historic 2025 Admiral's Cup

'Sunrise IV' at the finish line of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

The Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC), is proud to announce its participation in the 2025 Admiral's Cup. The Admiral's Cup, often dubbed the 'unofficial world cup' of offshore racing, was first established in 1957, and is one of the most prestigious and cherished competitions in the sailing community. 2025 is the first year the Admiral's Cup is being held in twenty-two years.

The event will take place at the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) at Cowes, Isle of Wight from July 17 - August 1.

Since the Admiral's Cup event was first held in 1957, thirteen Irish teams have competed, coming closest to victory in 1979. For the 2025 Cup, the Royal Irish Yacht Club is determined to bring the prestigious trophy to Ireland for the first time, assembling a solid and competitive team to do so. The RIYC team for the 2025 Admiral's Cup will comprise of Ron O'Hanley's Privateer, a Cookson 50 and Tom Kneen's Sunrise IV, a JPK 1180.

Privateer, skippered by Ron O' Hanley has an impressive record, including winning the overall prize at the RORC Caribbean 600. This is a major 11-island 600 mile race around the Caribbean islands with some of the world's top sailors and crews competing from all over the world. As well as coming second overall in the 2017 Fastnet Race they currently hold the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle course record at 19 hours and 19 minutes.

Tom Kneen is renowned as an offshore racing skipper. He and his crew have been one of the most successful combinations in offshore racing over the past five years taking Sunrise III to victory in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. The Fastnet Race is a biennial offshore yacht race, named after the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland which the racecourse rounds. They also placed second in the Middle Sea race in 2021, and more recently won the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race, in 2024.

The RIYC's participation underscores the club's commitment to achieving excellence in offshore sailing and honours its rich maritime heritage. With a formidable team, the RIYC is ready to compete at the highest level at the Cup this summer.

Commodore of the RIYC, Tim Carpenter, commented on the competition: "We are delighted that the owners of these two fine yachts will represent our club at this famous series. At the Royal Irish Yacht Club, our aim is to strengthen our members' involvement in offshore racing, and we see this Admiral's Cup participation as a significant step towards that goal."

Cookson 50 'Privateer' - photo © Tim Wright / photoaction.com